Reply by shaver

I went to the auction with a budget and after all was said and done, I’m kicking myself for not spending $80 more for some great deals.

For instance, a Delta drill press went for $30, and a butcher block woodworking table with vise went for $45 (easily 300 lbs+) – there was a whole slew of pipe clamps I could have used – but the bidding was fast and furious for those.

The auction was wonky – you basically bid on boxes of tools – the contents of which were a mish-mash – for instance, a lot may be tomato box of chisels, planes, and drill bits.. 2 of the planes you don’t want, and one you might want – but you need to take the whole thing if you want it. Things got interesting when one person wanted one thing in the box, and someone else wanted something else – that was how I got the bailey no. 3 plane, it was thrown in a bucket with a paint shaker someone won for a $40 bid.. I offered them $10 (for that rusty ‘ole tool) and we both got what we wanted.

There were probably around 50 planes all totaled, all dispersed amongst perhaps 15 separate lots – the planes I came away with were from 3 seperate lots.. I definitely got the picks of the litter (no bedrocks the or like here)

Speaking of which.. I want to wash the chip breakers/soles that might be too much work in an electrolytic bath for a while.. I have the bucket, I have the battery charger (I hope), got the washing soda.. about an sacrificial anode…

The last homeowner graciously left us about 200 lbs in cast iron barbell plates, i.e.:

I know not to use stainless steel, galvanized steel or brass.. cast iron would be fine, right?